tomlins



6 Shee ts-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. TOMLINSQ FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS.

IIV VENT 0/7: 6.65

AWN/Eh! Paten jced June 7,1898.

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m: scams PETERS co. Puo'muhiq, WASHINGTON, n. c

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOH:

ATTORNEYS Patented June 7, 1898.

(N0 Model.)

H. TOMLINS. FOG SIGNALINGAPPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS. No. 605,361.

WITNESSES.

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. TOMLIN S. vFOG SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILWA'Y S. No. 605,361.

Patented June 7,1898.

nvrmroa; 66, M

WITNESSES.

THE uonms PETERS co momuma, WASHINGTON, u c,

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4; H. TOMLINS. FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS.

Patented June 7, 1898'.

WITNESSES.

ATTORNEYS (No Model.)

I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. H. TOMLINS. FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS. No. 605,361.

Patented June 7, 1898.

nwmrom 96. J

mam/m WITNESSES.

THE uonms PETER$ cu. PHOYOALITHOH wasumarou. u. c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

H. TOMLINS. FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS,

No. 605,361. b I Patented June 7,1898.

Fla. /3

F/al/ Wren T03: lT/VESSES 96. r I non/Era.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFiciE.

HERBERT ToMLiNs, or LoivDoN, ENGLAND, ASSlGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC FOG-SIGNAL SYNDICATE, LIMITED, on SAME PLACE.

FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAI LWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,361, dated une 7, 1898. Application filed rovemterzaiser. Serial No. 659,443. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LHERBERT TOMLINS,(1eGO- rator, of 100 Hammersmith road,Londn, W.,

England, have invented new and Improved Fog Signaling Apparatus for Railways, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in electrically-controlled train-operated automatic fog signaling apparatus for railways; and the improvements have for their objects to render the operation and firing of the fog signaling apparatus automatically dependent on the position of the semaphore signal, to guard against the danger of a misfire owing to a defective cartridge, to guard against-two or more signals being fired in succession by the same train, and to improve the operation of the apparatus generally.

-Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein-- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation (with the casing removed) of the wheel-operated treadle mechanism, the treadle-lever being shownin the operative position. Fig. 2 is a modified form of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation (with thecasing removed) of the'me'chanism for operating the cartridge-holding disk. Fig. 4 is an elevation(with the casing removed and viewed in the opposite direction" to Fig. 3) of the firing mechanism just on the point of tripping a firing-hammer. :Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View of the firing mechanism Fig. 6 is a side elevation (with the casing removed) of the entire apparatus. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are detail views (to an enlarged scale) of one of the breech andfiring mechanisms. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modified form of support for the firing-hammer. Fig. ll showsa'front elevation (with the casing partly in section) of a telltale instrument in the signal-cabin and a diagram showing the electrical connections of the whole apparatus. Figs. 12 and position to be depressed by'the flange of the leading wheel of a passing train.

0 is a lever fast on the horizontal rockshaft D of the fog signaling apparatus, the lever having a curved spring 0 fastened to it, which (when the fog signaling apparatus is in operative position) is adapted to bear upward against the treadle, so as to be depressed therewith. The spring 0 prevents the trans- 6o mission of any violent shock to the apparatus and enables the apparatus to be so proportioned as to insure a sufficient angular motion being'given to the rock-shaft D by a wheel flange of greater or less depth, the depth of the'fian'ge varying according as the wheel is worn or not. Q

The shaft D passes beneath the railand has fast upon it an arm E, which is normally retained in such upwardly-projecting position that when released it will act (either by its own gravity or by a spring e, or by both) to rock the shaft D and turn the cartridge-carryin g disk, The cartridge-carrying disk F is loose upon shaft D and is provided with peripheral ratchet-teeth, with which engages a pawl e, pivoted at e to the arm E, the pawl being pressed into engagement by a spring 6 The disk F is turned to the extent of one .tooth by each descent of the arm E, which8o besides rotating the disk Falsoraises the spring 0 of lever G into position to be acted onby the treadleA'AJ The arm E is normally retained in the raised position. by a 1atch-levef K,'hereinafter described, and is only permitted to act as above described when fog signaling is necessary, the release of the arm E being then effected through electrical releasing mechanism operated conj ointly with the semaphore-signal. This disk F has as 0 many double-barreled cartridge-chambers G (each barrel being adapted to hold a cartridge G) as there are ratchet-teeth in its periphcry, the two chambers of each pair being perpendicular to the disk and arranged with 5 their axes on the same radius, the several pairs being arranged in aeircle, so as by the step-by-step rotation of the disk to COlIllOSUC' cessively into firing position. By this radiaL arrangement as many double barrels orcham- 10o bers can be got into a disk of given dimensions as though the barrels were single.

The firing of the charges is effected by a wiper h, carried by an arm H, fast to the shaft D, the arm H projecting radially of the disk in such position that the wiper It may be caused to act on the firing-hammer. This wiper is capable of being put in and out of operative position, as hereinafter described, and when the lever C is depressed by the treadle the wiper (if in operative position) trips afiring-hammer which acts on the breech mechanism of that cartridge-chamber which has been brought into the firing position by the previous descending movement of the arm E. By the same depression of the lever O the arm E is raised into position to act again, the pawl e engaging with a fresh ratchet-tooth of disk F.

The wheel-operated treadle, as shown in Fig. 1, is composed of a bar A, having a parallel motion, and of two long leversA, downwardly inclined from each, end of the bar, In order to insure parallel motion of the bar. A, it is coupled to linksa of equal length, pivoted on a supporting-plate B, and it is operated by the depression of one or other of the levers A by the wheel-flange, the ends of the bar A being for this purpose coupled to the levers A A by pin-and-slot connections a a the levers A being pivoted at a a -to the supporting-plate B and being also guided laterally'by the pins a, passing through slots 1) b in the vertical web of the base-plate B. The treadlebar A and levers A Amove together, and they can be worked by a train passing either up or down the line. The, treadle is kept in the raised position by springs B, socured to the plate B and pressing against the underside of the treadle-bar A and levers A A, the motion of the treadle in the upward direction being limited by the pins a and slots b in the plate B.

In the form. shown in Fig. 2' the bar A is dispensed with and the levers A A engage 0 instead of through the horizontal bar A.

As the fog signaling mechanism tends after a signal has been firedto reset itself in firing position so long as the semaphore-signal remains at danger, it is necessary, in order to avoid more than one fog-signal being fired by the same train, to make the treadle of such length that before a, wheel has quitted it the, next following wheel will have come upon it, sothat the treadle cannot rise while the-train is passing. The strength of the springs 15' is such that the treadle cannot be accidentally depressed, as by the weight of aperson tread ing on it, but will only yield to the weight of a train.

The arm E, which turns the disk F and raises the lever O to operativeposition, is nor mally retained in readiness to soact by means of a self-engaging catch K, pivoted at to the arm E and engaging with a tooth 70, projecting from a fixed lug 70 The release of the catch K is eifected electrically by the movement of the semaphore-signal to fdanger, or it may be efiected independently thereof in case of exceptional need by a-manuallyoperated mechanical connection. The electrical release of the catch K is effected by the closure of the battery-circuit through an electro-magnet k by the movement of the semaphore-signal from the all-right to the danger position. The armature 70 of the magnet 70 is attached to one end of a lever 70 the other end of which bears underneath the catch K, so that when the armature is attracted by the magnet the catch is raised until it clears the tooth 70, thus allowing the arm E to fall and so rotate the disk F sufficiently to bring the end of lever 7c, is made of such length that it is supported by the end of the lever during the complete, falling motion of arm E. The upward motion of the catch is limited by a fixed pin is, which also serves to limit the falling motion of the arm E by a lug 70 on the catch coming in contact with the pin' 70, the motion of the arm in the other direction being limited by a lug e on the arm coming against, the fixed lug k by the action of its own weight, which may The catch engages.

be reducedby the action of a spring, so as to reduce the Work of the magnet to a minimum. In case the disk F should be carried around i too far spring-detents M areprovided, which 1 are pivoted to the arm E and press upon the cartridge-barrels G as teeth and act in opposition to a non-return pawl N, engaging with the teeth of the disk, so that the disk will always be returned to the accurate firing position. The detents M, being mounted on the arm E, move (during the fall of arm E) as one with the disk F, and'therefore do not op-' breech-block g, common to both barrels.

Firing-pins g (one to each chamber) pass through the breech-blockand are yoked together by a bar 9 which is in position to be The breech-block catch 9 pivoted at g and engaging with a lug g projecting from the breech-block. The tail end of the catch g is prolonged, as shown, in order that it may be pulled back manually for the purpose of opening the breech for recharging. To facilitate the extraction of the spent cartridges, springs g, fastened to the disk F, engage with the cartridges and when the breech-block is opened cause them to fiy partly out, so that they can be easily extracted by hand.

The bracket G which carries the firinghammer 9 may either be attached to the breech-block g, as shown in Figs; 4, 6, 7 8, and 9, or to a fixed support, as shown in Fig. 10. In the first case there would be a separate firing-hammer to each breech mechanism, the wiper h being common to all the hammers. When the wiperis in the operative position and caused to act by the depression of the treadle, it will trip that one of the firing-hammers which,together with the breech mechanism on which it acts, has been brought into the firing position by the previous descending movement of the arm E. In the second case there is only onefiringhammer, which is common to all the breech mechanisms, and the bracket G which carries the hamme gis attached to a fixed support in such a position that when the firinghammer is tripped by the wiper h it will act upon the breech mechanism of that cartridgeehamber which for the time being is'in the firingposition. In order, in this second case, to allowthewiper hto pass the projecting arm of the firing-hammer when the arm E is moved in the opposite direction .to; that when it trips the hammer, the arm g of the hammer is lmuckle-jointed, as at gl the joint being rigid in one direction to enable the wiper h to trip the hammer, but capable of yielding in the other direction to. allow the wiper to pass, the arm of the hammer being thereafter returned to its original position by a spring 9. V i

In order, in the first case described, to indicate which fire-hammer has beenoperated, a small curved arm g is pivoted to the breechblock at g 'and tends by a spring. g to fly out, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9, but is normally restrained byits end being passed under and engaged by an upturned lipig l with the arm'of the fire-hammer, which when tripped by the wiper h releases the lip g allowing the arm 913 to spring out of the dotted position of Fig. 9 and expose to View its end which was hidden by the hammer-arm, the end ofthe arm 913 being painted or otherwise made conspicuous.

The wiper h is made retractable by being fitted to slide in guides on the arm I-I,and when the se maphore-signal is moved from the danger to the all-right? position the wiper h is so. retracted andthus renderedinoperative by the action of a magnet 72/,through which the battery-circuit is closed .by the said movement of thesignaL The magnet h is mounted onthe wiper-arm H, and its armature 71. is jointed to a lever 71 pivoted at h and coupled by a pin-and-slot joint W to the lower end of the wiper 72-, so that when the magnet is energized the wiper is retracted. The wiper when thus retracted is held out of operative position by one arm h of a bellcrank lever being caused by a spring g to engage with a shoulder h on the wiper. The retraction of the wiper is effected conjointly with the putting of the semaphore-signal to the all-right position, and when the wiper is thus retracted it will not act on the firing hammer g when the wiper-arm H is moved by a train depressing the. treadle. The wiper will, however, be released by the other arm h of the bell-crank lever coming in contact with the fixed pin 71 whereupon the wiper will be projected outward by a spring hL-butthis will not occur until after the wiper has been carried past the said firing-ham mer g sothat no fog-signal will be fired, (the semaphore beingat all right although all the othermovementsof the fog-signal mechanism will take place and the wiper will be projected into operative position in readiness to. act when next the semaphore-signal is put to danger. I; In order to, concentrate the sound of the explosion'in the required direction the double barrel, when in the firing position, is in line I with a stationary trumpet-mouth opening through the casing in which the apparatusis inclosed.

I When it is required to bring the fog signaling apparatus into use, an electrical switch 0 in the signal-"cabin is switched on by hand, soa's to enable the various electrical circuits (necessary to work the fog signaling appara: ms and also its telltale-indicator) to be automatically completed, on the one hand, by the operating-lever mechanism and, on the other hand, by the movements of the fog signaling mechanism itself. Thehand-switch O havmovements ofxthe semaphore-signal or of its IIO ingbeen thus closed, the energizing of the magnet kiof the fog signaling apparatus,

which releases the catch K, and the energizing of the magnet h, by which the retraction of the'wiper it is effected, will then be automatically.broughtabout by. opposite movements of the semaphore-signal as follows An 3 electrical. switch-lever 'v, pivoted at 'v and placed in any convenient position, is adapted tobemoved into contact with one or other of two terminals 0 '0 by being mechanically connected with .the' mechanism through which the semaphore-signal is operated, the switch 1: .being so connected that when the handlever is moved to put the semaphore-signal to .danger. the switch n will be brought into contact with the terminal 022, whereby the circuit is completed through which the magnet 70 is energized, this circuit remaining com- .pleted so long as the semaphore-signal remains at fidange n The energizing of magnet k causes the releaseot' catch K and permits the arm E to fall'and so partially rotate the disk F to bring the next pair of cartridgechambers to firing position and at same time raise the lever 0 into position to be actuated by the depression of the treadle, the fog signaling apparatus being thus in position to be operated by a passing train. When the semaphore-signal is lowered to the i all-right position, the switch 1) makes passing contact with the terminal '0 of the magnet h, thus completing the circuit through which said magnet is energized. The energizing of magnet h causes the retraction of the wiper 71, thereby putting the firing mechanism out of action when the semaphore-signal is moved to the all-right position. The magnets 70 and h are both in connection with one pole of the battery, the other pole of which is in connection with switch 12. The terminal 12 is a spring set in such an oblique position, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, that the switch '2; will pass behind it when the semaphore-signal is raised to the danger position, the then contact ing surfaces being covered with insulating material, so that no circuit is thereby closed.

As long as the semaphore-signal remains at danger so long does the switch '1) remain in the terminal 11 In order to avoid waste of electrical energy after the catch K has been raised, the circuit of magnet 70 is automatically broken by means of a circuit-breaker carried by the arm E. This circuit-breaker may be formed by the switch 19 and a contact 70 as shown. The switch e and terminals '0 Q23 may be placed in the signal-cabin and be operated by the hand-lever, which works the semaphore-signal, or they may be placed on the signal-post or in any other convenient position.

In order to indicate to the signalman that the cartridge-carrying disk F of the fog signaling apparatus has been carried round so as to bring a charged chamber into firing position and how many times it has been so moved, and likewise to inform, him whether the firing mechanism is or is not in position to act, an electric telltale or register, such-as shown in Fig. 11, is provided in the cabin, which is actuated by the closing of one or other of two electric circuits by a circuitcloser in connection with the arm E. The telltale comprises an index-lever P, oscillated in one or other direction by one or other of two electromagnets Q R, the circuit of the one Q being closed by switch 19, carried by arm E, making contactwith terminal q of magnet Q when said arm reaches its highest position, whereby the index-lever P is moved to the position denoting that the treadle hasbeen depressed, that the arm E has been raised, and that the wiper-arm H has been moved past a firing-hammer by the passage of a train. The circuit of the other magnet, R, is closed by switch 19 at terminal 1' of magnet B when the arm E reaches it lowest position, whereby the index is moved to the'position denoting that the disk F has been moved.to bring a charged chamber into firing position and that lever-O has been brought'in'to position to be acted on by the treadle.

The switch 19 is electrically connected with the index-lever P, which is provided with circuit-breakers,whereby the circuit of the magnet (by which for the time being the index is moved) is broken just before the index reaches its extreme position, to which it is carried by its own momentum. The circuit-breakers consist of spring-brushes connected with the index-lever P, which rub upon the terminal contacts q r of the electromagnets Q R, the contacts q 1" being so arranged with regard to the index-lever that when the latter is in either of its extreme positions it is in electrical connection with the electromagnet, by which it will be moved to the opposite posi tion when the circuit of that magnet is closed by the switch 19;

Then the index P is moved in the firstmentioned direction,denotin g that the treadle has been depressed, it may either strike a bell mechanically or mayin the course of its movement temporarily close at s s the circuit of an electric bell to notify the signalman of the fact. The indicator denoting how many times the disk F has been moved is a dial T, bearing numbers which are consecutively exhibited at an aperture in the casing, this dial being rotated to the extent of one number (each time the index-lever is moved to the position indicating that the treadle has been depressed) by a spring-pawl t, carried by the index-lever and engaging with ratchet-teeth on the dial, a detent t, also carried by the index-lever limiting the movement of the disk, and a non-return pawl 15 preventing retrograde motion of the'dial when the index-lever is moved to the other position. An electric gong operated from the cabin would be provided at a suitable distance beyond the fog signaling apparatus for the purpose of signaling the train to go on again.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim isl. In the herein-described explosive signaling apparatus, a revolving cartridge-holding disk having pairs of cartridge-holding chambers or barrels arranged in a circle, the two members or barrels of each pair being on the same radius, in combination with a breechblock common to the two chambers or barrels, and hinged to swing outward toward the circumference when opened, firing-pins for the two barrels yoked together, and a firing-hammer adapted to act on both firing-pins substantially as specified.

2. In the herein-described explosive signaling mechanism the combination, with a revolving cartridge-holding disk provided with breech-closing and firing mechanisms as described, ot' a spring-projected retractable wiper for acting on the firing-hammer as described, the wiper being carried by an arm on a treadleoperated rock-shaft,an electromagnet whereof the armature is connected to the wiper? so as,when attracted, to retract the wiper from operative position, a switch connected to the signal-operating mechanism "so as to close the circuit of the electromagnet when the signal is moved to all right, and of retaining mechanism consisting of a lever-bolt caused to engage the wiper and retain it in the retracted inoperative position until, by the oscillation of the rock-shaft by the depression of the treadle, the lever-bolt is tripped by contact with a fixed abutment and the wiper is permitted to resume its operative position in readiness for acting when next the signal is put to danger substantially as specified.

3. In the herein-described explosive signaling apparatus the combination with a revolving cartridge-holding disk, of a gravity or spring operated pawl-arm, engaging with the disk so as to give step-by-step motion thereto, and fast on a rock-shaft provided with another arm adapted when raised to be acted on by a wheel-depressed treadle, retaining mechanism consisting of a latch-lever engagingwith a catch for preventing the action of the lever, and of electromagnetic releasing mechanism for disengaging the latch on the closure of the magnet-circuit by a switch operated by the movement of the signal to dan ger so that when the pawl-arm is thus permitted to act, the cartridge-carrying disk will be partially rotated to bring the next chamber to firing position and raise the other arm on the rock-shaft into position to be acted on by the depression of the treadle as specified.

A. Intheherein-describedexplosive signaling mechanism, the combination with a revolving disk having cartridge-holding chambers provided withbreechclosing blocks, fire-pins and a spring-actuated hammerpivoted in position toact on the firing mechanism whichis in firing position, of a radial wiper mounted on a rock-shaft concentric with the cartridge-disk so as to swing through an are by the rocking motion of the shaft, the Wiper being mounted adj ustably in such po sition that it may either be projected so as to act on the said fire-hammer, or be retracted so as to pass clear of the hammer without act ing on it, according as the fog-signal is or is not to be fired, as specified. 5. In the herein-described explosive signaling mechanism, the combination with each breech mechanism having its own firing-hammer, of an indicator consisting of a spring plate pivoted to the breech-block in position to be swungbeneath the fire-hammer of the mechanism to which it pertains, a spring tend ing to' swing such indicator-plate from beneath the hammer, and a lip on the indicatorplate adapted to be swung into locking en gagement with the said hammer and to bereleased therefrom by the cocking of said hammer, substantially as specified.

Signed by me, the' said HERBERT TOMLINS,

this 30th day of September, 1897.

HERBERT 'TOMLINS. In presence of T. W. KENNARD, L. TWINN. 

